VSCode as MCP Server

A VSCode extension that turns your VSCode into an MCP server, enabling advanced coding assistance from MCP clients like Claude Desktop.

Key Features

Code Editing Support

• Review proposed code changes from an LLM through diffs, allowing you to accept, reject, or provide feedback.
• Real-time diagnostic messages (e.g., type errors) sent instantly to the LLM for immediate corrections.

Terminal Operations

• Execute commands within VSCode’s integrated terminal (supports background/foreground execution, and timeout settings).

Preview Tools

• Preview URLs directly within VSCode’s built-in browser (e.g., automatically opens browser preview after starting a Vite server).

Multi-instance Switching

• Easily switch the MCP server between multiple open VSCode windows.

Relay Functionality (Experimental)

• Relay and expose built-in MCP servers introduced in VSCode 1.99 externally.
• Allows external access to tools provided by other MCP extensions, such as GitHub Copilot.

Available Built-in Tools

• execute_command: Execute commands in VSCode’s integrated terminal
• code_checker: Retrieve current diagnostics for your code
• focus_editor: Focus specific locations within files
• list_debug_sessions / start_debug_session / restart_debug_session / stop_debug_session: Manage debug sessions
• text_editor: File operations (view, replace, create, insert, undo)
• list_directory: List directory contents in a tree format
• get_terminal_output: Fetch output from a specified terminal
• list_vscode_commands / execute_vscode_command: List and execute arbitrary VSCode commands
• preview_url: Open URLs within VSCode’s integrated browser

Installation & Setup

1. Install the extension from the VSCode Marketplace.

2. Configure your MCP client:

   • Using mcp-installer: You can simply instruct it to "install the vscode-as-mcp-server MCP server".
   • Other clients like Claude Desktop: Add the following to your configuration file (claude_desktop_config.json):

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "vscode": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["vscode-as-mcp-server"]
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Check the MCP server status in the bottom-right VSCode status bar:

   • ✅: Server is running
   • ∅: Click to start the server

Motivation

This extension was developed to mitigate high costs associated with metered coding tools (like Roo Code and Cursor). It's an affordable, self-hosted alternative built directly into VSCode.

Bug reports and feedback are very welcome! 🙇

Future Roadmap

• Ability to select which built-in MCP servers to expose
• WebView-based approval UI (similar to Roo Code)
• Integration with VSCode's file history (Timeline)
• Instant toggling of auto-approvals and tool activation/deactivation
• Customizable server port configuration